In a general aspect, orientation information is used to generate a unique code. In some aspects, orientation information is extracted from an object. The object includes multiple elements, and the orientation information indicates the relative spatial orientations of the respective elements. The orientation information can be extracted, for instance, by a scanner system that detects the elements. A unique code is generated for the object based on the orientation information. In some examples, the elements are diamond particles that each have one or more color centers, and the orientation information is extracted by detecting the color centers.

Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for light-based authentication of a payment card. The payment card may include a randomized mix of materials. The materials may include transparent or translucent materials. A light source may shine light on a surface of the payment card. Light passing through the card may generate a light pattern that is unique to the payment card. The light pattern may be captured and compared to a reference light pattern to authenticate the payment card. In some embodiments, photodetectors may detect light patterns generated through interactions with the card materials.

An identification apparatus or system includes an estimation unit that estimates an operating distance between the surface of an optical device and an imaging unit as an estimated value. A reference distance refers to the distance between a first face of an identification target and the imaging unit and at which light diffracted by a diffraction grating is capable of being recorded by the imaging unit. A first determination unit is included that determines whether the estimated value matches the reference distance and a second determination unit that determines whether an image captured by the imaging unit matches a reference image. Conditions for identifying the optical device as the identification target include a condition that the first determination unit determines that the estimated value matches the reference distance and a condition that the second determination unit determines that the image captured by the imaging unit matches the reference image.

The invention relates to a method for authenticating a secure document comprising data printed by analogue or digital printing, said method comprising the following operations: —definition, from among a set of graphical and/or alphanumeric data of the secure document, of at least one distinct data area including at least one distinctive pattern; —during an operation of fabrication of the secure document, reading the distinct data area onto a storage device so as to form a distinct reference data area; —in the course of an operation of verification of the authenticity of the secure document, extracting the distinct data area from a digitized version of the secure document; and—comparing the extracted distinct data area with the distinct reference data area so as to determine a level of matching between said distinct data areas and to deduce therefrom a positive authentication or negative authentication.

A system comprising: a document holder; an image sensor directed toward the document holder; a polarized filter between the image sensor and the document holder; a filter motor configured to rotate the polarized filter; one or more processors; and at least one memory having stored thereon computer program code that, when executed by the one or more processors, instructs the one or more processors to: control the filter motor to rotate the polarized filter; control the image sensors to capture a plurality of images of a document within the document holder, the plurality of images corresponding to a respective relative orientations of the polarized filter to the document; identify a feature of the document; and output, in response comparing respective visual characteristics of the feature of the document to corresponding expected visual characteristics of the first feature for the document, an indication of a verification of the document.

In a general aspect, orientation information is used to generate a unique code. In some aspects, orientation information is extracted from an object. The object includes multiple elements, and the orientation information indicates the relative spatial orientations of the respective elements. The orientation information can be extracted, for instance, by a scanner system that detects the elements. A unique code is generated for the object based on the orientation information. In some examples, the elements are diamond particles that each have one or more color centers, and the orientation information is extracted by detecting the color centers.

A system comprising: a document holder; an image sensor directed toward the document holder; a polarized filter between the image sensor and the document holder; a filter motor configured to rotate the polarized filter; one or more processors; and at least one memory having stored thereon computer program code that, when executed by the one or more processors, instructs the one or more processors to: control the filter motor to rotate the polarized filter; control the image sensors to capture a plurality of images of a document within the document holder, the plurality of images corresponding to a respective relative orientations of the polarized filter to the document; identify a feature of the document; and output, in response comparing respective visual characteristics of the feature of the document to corresponding expected visual characteristics of the first feature for the document, an indication of a verification of the document.

In a general aspect, orientation information is used to generate a unique code. In some aspects, orientation information is extracted from an object. The object includes multiple elements, and the orientation information indicates the relative spatial orientations of the respective elements. The orientation information can be extracted, for instance, by a scanner system that detects the elements. A unique code is generated for the object based on the orientation information. In some examples, the elements are diamond particles that each have one or more color centers, and the orientation information is extracted by detecting the color centers.

Exemplary embodiments are disclosed herein for processing one or more sheets of sheet material in a deposit include various systems and processes. The systems and processes include receiving a sheet in a sheet-accepting device. Further, the systems and processes include reading, by a sensor, an identifier on each sheet, detecting anomaly information for the sheet that identifies an anomalous characteristic of the sheet. The systems and processes also include determining, for each sheet, information about the sheet from the identifier on the sheet, including accounting information and deposit information, including a value associated with the deposit. Moreover, the systems and processes include performing a reconciling process when the anomaly information identifies an anomalous characteristic of the sheet, including debiting the account associated with the sheet based on the value associated with the deposit that included the sheet, and crediting the account based on that value.

In a general aspect, unique unclonable physical identifiers are applied and used. A method of applying the unique marker can include receiving an object having a surface feature and forming a unique marker on the surface feature of the object. The unique marker includes a distribution of elements and conforms with a morphology of the surface feature. The method further includes extracting orientation information from the unique marker. The orientation information can indicate relative spatial orientations of the respective elements. The method additionally includes generating a unique code for the object based on the orientation information. The surface feature can be facets, surface patterns, textures, or other indentations of the object. The surface feature can include a region of the object that is susceptible to tampering.